0
Reegis Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Mary bought new curtains for/to her bedroom.
Hello.
Which of the sentences below is correct / sounds better? Most importantly, please explain why.
1) Mary bought new curtains for her bedroom.
2) Mary bought new curtains to her bedroom.
I googled this topic and I think that I understand the general rules, but this case is not clear for me.
Which of the sentences below is correct / sounds better? Most importantly, please explain why.
1) Mary bought new curtains for her bedroom.
2) Mary bought new curtains to her bedroom.
I googled this topic and I think that I understand the general rules, but this case is not clear for me.
Top answer
"for" is correct; "to" is incorrect. As for why, well, you cannot buy something "to" something else. There is no meaning of "to" that makes any sense in that context.
- "for" is correct; "to" is incorrect.
- As for why, well, you cannot buy something "to" something else.
- There is no meaning of "to" that makes any sense in that context.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
"for" is correct; "to" is incorrect.
As for why, well, you cannot buy something "to" something else. There is no meaning of "to" that makes any sense in that context.
As for why, well, you cannot buy something "to" something else. There is no meaning of "to" that makes any sense in that context.
00
I see.
In this video I saw it explained as we either transfer/exchange something (and use 'to') or we benefit someone (and use 'for'
In this video I saw it explained as we either transfer/exchange something (and use 'to') or we benefit someone (and use 'for'
00
"benefit someone" can be extended to "benefit something", the "something" in this case being the bedroom (loosely).
I didn't watch the whole video, but I'm not sure how helpful it is to characterise "to" as referring to an "exchange".
I didn't watch the whole video, but I'm not sure how helpful it is to characterise "to" as referring to an "exchange".
00
0
You buy things for someone; you buy things for some purpose or use. That's about it. The only reason you would use "to" is if you had an infinitive. Why? That's just the way it is in English for the verb "buy".
I bought gifts for the children.
I bought curtains for the bedroom.
I bought glue to repair that broken cup.
In the first ca
I bought gifts for the children.
I bought curtains for the bedroom.
I bought glue to repair that broken cup.
In the first ca
00
I see. So there might be some general descriptive guidelines when to use 'for' or 'to', but eventually it all comes down to the verb - in this case it is 'to buy' that determines what preposition should be used.
00
ReegisSo there might be some general descriptive guidelines when to use 'for' or 'to', but eventually it all comes down to the verbRight, or the adjective or the noun or whatever there might be in the text that has some governing power over the preposition that follows.
CJ
0
Related Questions